“You want me.” He says it so softly I barely hear him. Glancing in my mirror, he’s looking down, his face unreadable, his tone serious.
“Don’t flatter yourself,” I respond curtly, trying to stay resilient. I’ve seen the girls who are associated with his club; he’s a player and is telling me what I want to hear.
He grunts, a smile breaking across his face. “You’re telling me you didn’t like me kissing you the other night? That my hand up your shirt didn’t light a fire in those little panties of yours?” His tone is arrogant. My body responds, my nipples hardening, craving to have his rough touch one more time. Goddamn him, why can’t he shut up?
“I was drunk,” I defend, looking out the windshield.
The car goes quiet, and I’m thankful; his confrontation made me uncomfortable.
“Hey, Rookie?”
“Hmm?” I look in the rearview mirror to see his face. His mouth is parted, the corner of one lip curved slightly as he looks downward.
“How sore do you think you’ll be after I’m done fucking you?” His eyes slide upward, pinning me. His words shock me but draw my body’s attention fully. My cheeks flush, my heart beating so hard it feels like I just ran a mile.
A horn honks, catching my attention. Looking forward, I slam on my brakes, nearly rear-ending another car. Risking a glimpse at him, I peer at the rearview mirror. He’s still staring at me; he knows he affects me. Those dark brown eyes pin me with an overwhelming amount of sexual need. Swallowing hard, I look away. Taking a ragged breath, an attempt to calm my wrecked nerves, I try to focus on the road the rest of the ride.
Arriving at the station, I walk him to the processing desk. Kelly’s eyes go wide.
“Jillian, what are you doing?” she whispers loudly.
“Taking me in an Outlaw, what’s it look like?” I state, my voice laced with pride. Nobody has brought down an Outlaw since Zeek’s father was caught moving drugs, and that was years ago. Word is Zeek’s father died before he was prosecuted, though. Rival gang inside the jail got to him first.
“Are you stupid?” she whispers, her eyes darting from Zeek to me. She grabs my arm, pulling us to the side. “Did you not hear what happened to the last deputy who tried to arrest Zeek?” I shrug, not sure what she’s talking about, and how I haven’t heard about it. “His men beat him to the point he was in the hospital. They say he never talked again, but I’m not sure if it was because of fear or because he literally can’t.” She looks over my shoulder. Following her line of sight, I see Deputy Miller. He’s in a wheelchair and has been on desk duty since I can remember.
Kelly gives a sheepish look and turns away. Glancing over my other shoulder, Zeek is sitting down in a blue plastic chair, his eyes never leaving mine. Why didn’t he hurt me? Why did he order his men to hold off? Why does he keep saving me?
“Deputy Adams, my office!” Lieutenant Oaks hollers, making Kelly and me jump. She gives me a sympathetic look.
I glare at him before heading into his office.
“For Christ’s sake,” he mutters under his breath, clearly angry. “Have a seat, I’ll be there in a moment.” He points to a chair and slams the door.
What the hell?
Minutes later, he walks in, his face furious.
“What did I tell you? You are to stay away from them. Make sure the situation is stable and leave. You could have been killed!” he yells, scolding me like a child. I’m sure everyone can hear him parent me.
“I was doing my job. I don’t understand why the Sin City Outlaws are to be treated any different than the rest of the criminals out there.”
He laughs in mockery then sits behind his desk.
“You don’t need to. You need to follow rank, and as your commanding officer, I gave you an order. If you cannot obey it, your employment here will be terminated.” His voice is stern. My eyes widen as my mouth parts with disbelief.
“Dad, you can’t be—”
“Oh, I am. I’m doing this for your protection, Jillian. Don’t play with fire you can’t handle. And I can assure you, playing with the Sin City Outlaws… you will get more than burnt. You’ll be ashes.”
My nostrils flare with humiliation and anger, my pride and self-worth crumpled in the pit of my stomach.
“Yes, sir,” I mutter, looking down.
“That will be all.”
ZEEK
Heading outside, I find my bike with Felix leaning against it.
“That was quicker than I thought it’d be,” he sneers, standing upright.
“You know they won’t keep me. Too scared of the repercussions.”
“Right, well, why don’t you tell me why you let that fucking bitch arrest you in the first place?” My eyes snap to his, the tone of his voice pissing me off. “The last time someone tried to arrest you, the boys and I handled that shit. None of our men have been arrested since, so why would you let her? What, you going soft, wanting to fuck her?”